Posted by Wild West
a resident of Another Pleasanton neighborhood
on May 8, 2013 at 9:27 am

I guess we should not be surprised with all these bank robberies going on in Pleasanton, given the news that came out today that Oakland has the highest robbery rate of any major city in the U. S. Web Link What I want to know is: What are the City of Pleasanton, and the banks in Pleasanton, doing to put a stop to these bank robberies in Pleasanton? And, what is being done to get a handle on the robberies that are becoming common at Stoneridge Mall? I am not aware that this has even come up for discussion at City Council.

Posted by concerned citizen
a resident of Val Vista
on May 8, 2013 at 9:46 am

Answer to Wild West. The City Council is too busy making plans to make a "Project" on Owens Dr. I moved here years ago so my family would be safe and the promise that Bart would not stop at the mall. Some people will critize this post, but the safety of my family comes first. This beautiful city doesn't have to look and behave like some cities in the Bay Area.

Posted by JR
a resident of Foothill High School
on May 8, 2013 at 11:23 am

To me, the story and the video convey the ease with which it is possible to just walk into any bank branch and demand money, even without a weapon. So, it actually has the unintended consequence of telling other potential robbers to "come on down to Pleasanton". And the videos posted here don't show enough close-up detail for me to help in finding the suspect. All I have to go on is what he was wearing that day.

Posted by kolohe
a resident of another community
on May 8, 2013 at 11:56 am

tellers and officers should carry tazers...and use them...this is so crazy, that in this day and age, we can't stop a bank robbery, let alone one that happens often...close the bank, move the bank, train tellers to press the button with their knees if hands are in the air...oh my goodness folks...

Posted by Sue
a resident of another community
on May 8, 2013 at 12:33 pm

There was an obvious witness standing right near the robber. It's showing in the film. He didn't notice what was going on and witness it? I know it's probably easy for the robber to change clothes, but the clothes he was wearing were pretty bright. How could he be missed? I used to live in Pleasanton and always thought they had some of the best police.

This particular corner has had their fill of bank robberies. They seem to go from B of A, to Wells Fargo, to Chase, to Union Bank. I believe they should all get better, more clear photos in the banks and maybe even have surveillance cameras in the parking lot. That would maybe have a robber think twice about coming around if he knew he would be on camera.

What's wrong with the banks in Oakland? Wouldn't it make more since to rob one closer to home, easier getaway, plenty of places to hide out. And the homies would never point their finger at one of their own. Time to put electronic locks on all our banks front doors so that you need to be buzzed in, along with lots of eye level cameras and some armed security guards before somebody gets hurt!!

Posted by Val Vista Dude
a resident of Val Vista
on May 9, 2013 at 8:47 am

Folks, nobody got hurt here. If the tellers try tasing or whatever, the robbers are more likely to shoot or something stupid. The money he took has a dye pack; he will find it's very hard to spend. Furthermore, about 90 percent of bank robbers are caught.

It's unfortunate that crime has increased, and I'm sure BART has a lot to do with it. Let's hope the City Council bumps up the police budget in general, and especially around Stoneridge. Video surveillance, in public areas like parking lots, would be an excellent idea. And it's not an infringement of privacy - you can't expect privacy in a shopping mall parking lot.

Posted by Wild West
a resident of Another Pleasanton neighborhood
on May 9, 2013 at 8:58 am

Stella,
You are the one that injected race into the discussion, not Map. Map didn't say anything about race. He made the assumption the guy was from Oakland. He has a reasonable probability of being right. About 50% of the perps that have committed bank robberies or muggings/assaults at Stoneridge have been from Oakland, with most of the rest being from Hayward or San Jose.

Posted by Better_Idea
a resident of Laguna Oaks
on May 9, 2013 at 9:03 am

Ok, easy solution to catch these jerks. Install mantraps. Sorry ladies, not sure if there is a "Politically correct name devised yet. A man trap is a small area between two sets of doors. Many stores have these to reduce the impact of the outside air. Bad person robs bank, goes to leave and the teller hits the arm button once they are in the trap. Both doors lock and the bad guy is stuck in the middle until police arrive. This would require better glass, but is a lot cheaper than letting these robbers have their way with our city.

Posted by mooseturd
a resident of Pleasanton Valley
on May 9, 2013 at 10:09 ammooseturd is a registered user.

It would be a big help if surveillance cameras were at belly button height. Hoodies and ball caps would provide less disguise. Come on banks. Good cameras fit in my cell phone these days. They could be installed in each tellers pen. Or in their ID badge. Damn banks would rather pay the insurance and give the money away.

It would also help if bank robbers served more than 10 days in the pokey.

Posted by Pleasanton resident
a resident of Vintage Hills Elementary School
on May 9, 2013 at 11:25 am

Metal detectors. Metal detectors. Metal detectors! Better video cameras on every door, teller and ATM. It is just a reality to be better prepared for the next time, and there WILL be a next time. Every time someone gets caught, and prosecuted, the risk goes down!

Posted by citizen
a resident of Another Pleasanton neighborhood
on May 9, 2013 at 11:43 am

@ Better_Idea & the other "citizen". Good ideas! Very "pro-active" and not making excuses or complaining about what else is wrong. You must be from the "Boomer" generation or raised by "responsible parents" from that era. Too bad most of what we see posted today comes from the "Dark Side"!! Way to go !!

A metal detector would not have helped since no weapon was seen. Why don't we ask the city of planned progress why "Man traps" are not approved in in the planning process of Pleasanton banks. The answer is quits simple; the city leaders don't want residents thinking there is crime here. "Man traps" are in most Southern California banks and are effective deterrents. Also, ask why the the cameras at all the intersections in town don't record video of traffic and bad guys leaving town after they commit their crimes. The answer is the city council did not want "Big Brother" in the the city watching traffic.

Crime can be deterred and the bad guys captured, but why does the city of planned progress continue to stick it's collective head in the sand and deny criminal activity in Pleasanton? After all, there were FOUR robberies this week alone in Pleasanton. This is a great city and better place to live than most, but Pleasanton is susceptible to crime just like anywhere else.

....guess the two trying to rob places didnt hear about the robber shot and killed attempting the same activity in San Ramon about a year ago. Only one of the robbers friends from that day is still on the run, the other two are in jail awaiting murder charges.

Posted by Mitch
a resident of another community
on May 11, 2013 at 7:58 am

Anonymous fear mongers pretending like their have never been bank robberies or theft in Pleasanton,calling for more surveillance.

Quit your whining about the mall and BART, you will live longer. Know I'm not losing sleep over Nordstroms or Macys having to hire a bit more security to deal with the increased crime that comes with bigger crowds.

People have always robbed banks. Even in Pleasanton. People have always stolen from the Mall.Even in Pleasanton. Despite these facts, your safe.

First of all Pleasanton is a safe city period! Yes the police & city council can control the bank robberies & Stoneridge mall robberies by having tight security at the BART or just not have the BART stop in Pleasanton and that will put an end to it. The residents that have a lot of time should seriously go to city council meetings and voice their opinions about this. More than likely city council will listen and take action with the police dept.

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